New London — Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio has ordered the police department to hold off on buying the personal protective equipment — more commonly known as riot gear — that it requested last week.

Acting Police Chief Peter Reichard last week requested permission from the City Council to use $28,000 to equip every officer with a shield, helmet and gas mask. The request was referred to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee for further discussion. 

On Monday, Finizio instructed Reichard by email to halt the department’s purchase of the equipment, citing concerns expressed by police union President Todd Lynch and members of the public. 

“The union had some concerns about the prioritization of this spending and mentioned a possible grievance being filed by the union,” Finizio wrote in his email to Reichard. “As you are also aware, many members of the public have also expressed concern that this purchase request (coming when it does) signals a ‘military like escalation’ by law enforcement to recent public concerns raised about national law enforcement tactics.” 

In recent weeks, several groups have organized protests and rallies in downtown New London to call attention to issues of police brutality and race relations across the country. 

Finizio told Reichard to refrain from purchasing any of the riot gear “until such time as the administration and the union have a chance to discuss it, and also so that this purchase does not signal any unnecessary escalation of law enforcement’s position relative to our local protests.” 

Finizio said Reichard told him there was “no immediate law enforcement need” for the gear, and said they agreed that the protests and rallies in New London have been civil and peaceful. 

“I think it is best at this point to avoid any further controversy about this subject,” Finizio said Tuesday. “I want to sit down and talk to the union, sit down and talk to the City Council, and reach a reasonable determination that hopefully can be removed somewhat from the current climate.” 

On Sunday, Finizio defended the department’s request in a wide-ranging Facebook post, though he called the timing of the request “unfortunate.” 

“Our city is home to events that draw hundreds of thousands of people. We are a transportation hub that has received credible security threats in the past,” Finizio wrote. “As such, it is reasonable for our department to ensure it is prepared for any contingency.” 

Reichard did not respond to a phone call or email from The Day on Tuesday.

c.young@theday.com

Twitter: @ColinAYoung